I’m sure that I am violating some kind of literary law by simultaneously reading several books at once. The books are located in different parts of the house and I’ll read a chapter here and there from each book regularly.  The biographies (Ten Boom, Ben Franklin) are interesting and informative, the testimonials (Yancey, Saint, Hook) are encouraging and inspiring, the apology (Copan) is very educational, and the environmental outcry (Kennedy) presents another viewpoint.

Currently Reading The Hiding Place By Corrie Ten Boom, John Scherrill

Currently Reading True for You, But Not for Me: Deflating the Slogans that Leave Christians Speechless By Paul Copan

Currently Reading Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? By Philip Yancey

Currently Reading Walking His Trail: Signs of God along the Way By Steve Saint, Ginny Saint

Currently Reading The Power of an Ordinary Life: Discover the Extraordinary Possibilities Within (Transforming the World One Day at a Time) By Harvey A. Hook

Currently Reading Crimes Against Nature: How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy By Jr., Robert F. Kennedy

Currently Reading Benjamin Franklin (Yale Nota Bene) By Edmund S. Morgan

Currently Reading
True Colors: Get to Know Yourself and Others Better With the Highly Acclaimed Birkman Method
By Roger W. Birkman

So, I finally finished the DVD, Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism, which I checked out from the church library. Great stuff; I highly recommend it. Grace, free will, sovereignty, election, security. It’s interesting to see the kind of language we’ll use based on our position on these matters. We often use simple language without realizing the deeper implications. I’ve always joked that theologically I’m a Calvinist but for every day practicality, I behave like an Arminian. Amazing Grace challenged my weak but practical theology and has caused me to rethink my approach to sharing the Gospel. Consider the following proclamations, I know I’ve used variations of them all:

“Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is able to save you. Your sin is abominable to God. A just and holy God must punish sin, — including your sin in Adam. Your sin is either paid in Christ or you will pay for it by eternal death. Christ died for sinners like you and I. His death is sufficient to pay for the penalty of your sin.”

“God loves you! He loves you so much he sent His only begotten Son to suffer for you. He offers you a wonderful plan for your life. The death of Christ has made it possible for you to have this gift of life. All you need to do now is accept Jesus as your savior. Do not reject Him. He cannot give you the gift unless actually take it.”

“God loves the world. He sent Christ to die for the world. God loves you, Christ died for you. If you believe in Christ you will be saved. Accept Him now, for He will not cast you out.”

The last one is a slightly different position from the first.

Sound familiar? It’s worth checking out.